Civil Union

I believe that same sex couples should be able to be involved in a civil union. Marriage is defined as a union between a male and female, I believe that it should remain that way. However, I believe that all people have the same rights and that does not exclude homosexuals. There are many reasons for a civil union including shared taxes, children, and recognition as family. Homosexuals should have an equal opportunity to these benefits. For this reason, I am for civil union between couples of the same sex.
Marriage has its own problems, such as divorce, a major problem in the United States. As a child of divorce, I understand how hard it is for the family as a whole when two parents divorce. Before the divorce, the parents are always arguing, which could cause an even more adverse affect on the child than the actual divorce itself. Then there is the divorce, custody hearings, and afterwards the traveling back and forth. It has been proven that homosexual couples have a high relationship success rate (152). It is better for a child to have two parents at home, rather that one who is always struggling to raise them. It takes time to be a parent and for this reason it is important that the child has two parents to take of him or her.
Spriggs argues that many homosexual men have short term partners, a fact that could interfere with adoption of a child between the two partners. However, if a homosexual couple were in a civil union, it would show more stability in the relationship. Civil unions would reduce the ambiguity of adoption for homosexual couples.
In the argument against unions between homosexual couples, the child’s mental health was a concern. However, children also suffer from problems of marriage between heterosexual couples, such as divorce, moving because of a job, etc. There are many different aspects to a child’s life besides their parents as well. A child’s mental health could be due to school, sports, or other aspects of the child’s life.
Children of homosexual couples may be different, but different should not be perceived as a bad aspect. The research regarding lesbian couples and their children shows that children of lesbian couples are more likely to try out homosexual relationships; however, if we are regarding this as a bad thing, then we are discriminating against homosexuals. Homosexuality is a way of life, people do not choose to be homosexual and therefore, they should not be discriminated against. If a person is truly homosexual, whether or not their parents are has no determination on the sexuality of that person in the future.
Marriage between black and white used to be banned as well. Spriggs argues that this is a different situation because this law was used to keep the social status at the time constant. However, marriage between homosexuals is, in reality, part of the same social ladder. Homosexuality is gaining more support from the public, but it is still not the norm. Furthermore, it is not fully accepted by society. The idea that homosexuals can not be married continues to exclude homosexuals from our norm society.
The argument that homosexuals have “more diseases” is invalid. These are only a few of the many different diseases people in the United States have. It would be more dangerous for a child to live in a home of a single mom who makes on her money on the streets, or a drug dealer, or even an overweight person at risk for heart attack. We could even take it as far as to say before someone wishes to have a child; they must get a DNA test to make sure they aren’t at risk for any type of inheritable diseases that the child could acquire. Disease is a part of human life, and unfortunately, there is little we can do to regulate what a child is born into. If a homosexual couple is willing to adopt, willing to love the child, and has the capability to do so, they should be allowed.
In conclusion, civil unions are the next step towards making homosexuals equal in our society. The prejudices and discrimination towards homosexuals in our present society restricts the idea of civil unions. Homosexuals are equal citizens and deserve to have the rights that all Americans do.